The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has said the Commission will intensify voter engagement and strengthen collaboration with State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) as part of preparations for the 2027 general election.
Amupitan spoke on Wednesday in Abuja during an electoral process review meeting that featured the swearing‑in of a new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) from Abia State, a courtesy visit by the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON), and a quarterly meeting with RECs from across the country.
He commended the peaceful conduct of the recent FCT Area Council election and by‑elections in Kano and Rivers states, describing the exercise as largely transparent and efficiently managed. According to him, over 93 per cent of polling unit results were uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal by 2 p.m. on February 22, 2026, underscoring the Commission’s commitment to transparency and timely result management.
The INEC chairman also highlighted a noticeable improvement in voter turnout in the Federal Capital Territory, where participation rose from 9.4 per cent in 2022 to about 15 per cent in the latest election, with more than 239,000 voters casting their ballots. Despite the progress, he acknowledged that more work remained to be done.
“We must reflect honestly on our processes, identify areas for improvement, and deepen voter confidence in the electoral system,” he said, adding that preparations for upcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as the 2027 general election, required sustained institutional reforms.
Earlier, the National Chairman of FOSIECON, Mamman Nda Eri, congratulated the INEC chairman on his appointment and called for structured collaboration between INEC and SIECs to strengthen electoral governance at the state and local government levels.
Eri said INEC’s strides in institutional reform and technological innovation had provided valuable lessons for subnational electoral bodies. He specifically referenced digital tools such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, noting that SIECs were keen to explore how appropriate technological innovations could be adapted within existing constitutional and legal frameworks.
The FOSIECON chairman proposed joint training programmes, technical exchanges, and mentorship initiatives covering election planning, logistics, ICT systems, results management, and security coordination. He also advocated collaboration in voter education, stakeholder engagement, research, documentation, and data sharing to promote evidence‑based reforms.
While acknowledging that INEC and SIECs operate under distinct constitutional mandates, Eri stressed that institutional cooperation and shared learning would enhance the credibility and integrity of elections at all levels of governance.
Responding, the INEC chairman welcomed the FOSIECON delegation and emphasised the importance of open dialogue, knowledge sharing, and peer learning among electoral bodies. He noted that state‑level electoral management plays a critical role in shaping citizens’ democratic experiences and encouraged continuous exchange of best practices to address operational challenges.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment by both INEC and FOSIECON to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral framework through collaboration, innovation, and continuous review of processes aimed at ensuring free, fair, and credible elections nationwide.
By Juliet Ezeh, Abuja
